Spatial Disaggregation of Particulate Matter Emission Inventory in the Metropolitan Area of Aburr\'a Valley for Air Quality Modelling

Restrepo, S. Lopez; Botero, Andrés Yarce; Pinel, Nicolás; Quintero, O. Lucía; Segers, Arjo; Heemink, A.W.

doi:10.31223/x56882

Cited by 1 publication

(1 citation statement)

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“…Although traffic and PM emission activities have reduced, some studies report PM levels to increase (Arregocés et al, 2020;Broomandi et al, 2020). The increasing vehicle flow in urban and rural areas, industrial expansion, and dependence on the extraction of non-renewable resources expose Colombia to air pollution challenges (Casallas et al, 2020;Lopez-Restrepo et al, 2020). Studies to understand the environmental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in Colombia have focused on analyzing urban and small industrial areas.…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Lockdown due to the COVID-19 Pandemic on Air Quality at Latin America’s Largest Open-pit Coal Mine

Arregocés

Rojano

Restrepo

2021

Aerosol Air Qual. Res.

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Particulate Matter is the main pollutant produced in open-pit mining operations. Its emission into the atmosphere is strongly associated with adverse health effects in the surrounding communities. The objective of the study is to evaluate the impact of lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic on the particulate matter (PM) levels in the Northern, Central, and Southern Zones of the largest open-pit coal mine in Latin America. We analyzed and compared daily data on PM10 and PM2.5 before and during the emergency shutdown from the week of March 6 through April 13, 2020, while comparing daily values from the combined product of the Terra-Aqua/MODIS satellites to elucidate the effects of the closure. Unlike other sites monitored globally, we observed an increase in the average PM 10 concentrations in the Northern Zone (13-38%) and Southern Zone (4-7%) of the coal mine. Additionally, PM2.5 concentrations increased in the Southern Zone by up to 43% throughout the lockdown when compared to daily records prior to the commencement of mandatory isolation. PM10 concentrations in the Central Zone decreased (26-31%) in the course the lockdown. Further, higher aerosol optic depth (AOD) values (≥0.4) were evident over the Central and Southern study areas during the lockdown, as well as significant AOD loads upwind and downwind of the coal production pits. Wetter (up to 3.5%), warmer (up to 0.3 K), reduced planetary boundary layer height (up to 0.11 km), wind field variability, and biomass burning in rural areas determine the spatial-temporal behavior of PM. The reduction of emissions from PMmining activities was almost compensated by changes in meteorology and external sources. These results provide a baseline for regulators to establish future mitigation plans.

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